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Writer's pictureMichelle Weir (Local Democracy Reporter)

ANB councillors approve rise in their allowances

Uk money

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors approved a rise in their allowance at this month’s meeting of the council’s Policy and Governance Committee.


The basic allowance will rise from £17,030 to £17,456 per annum backdated to April 2024 for the current financial year.



Councillors are eligible for the payment set by the Department for Communities under the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and the Local Government (Payments to Councillors) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019.


Local elected representatives are also entitled to claim travel expenses of 65 pence per mile, payable for cars with an engine of 1,199cc; 45 pence per mile for electric car and 24 pence per mile by motorcycle. These rates have not increased.


An allowance of £100.70 can be paid for an overnight business stay; £11.50 for breakfast; £13.50 for lunch; £20.95 for an evening meal and £4.70 for tea. These remain unchanged.



A dependants’ carers’ allowance will rise to £12.21 per hour for standard rate and £24.42 per hour for specialist care, from April.


A report to the committee said:


“All previously agreed mayor, deputy mayor and special responsibility allowances have been increased by 2.5% in line with the increase in the basic allowance.”


A review carried out by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in May 2021 showed mayors in other council areas of Northern Ireland could receive an annual allowance between £10,000 and £34,800, their deputies between £5,000 and £9,021 and committee chairs between £1,061 and £8,844. The basic allowance is also paid.



Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said at the time: 


“The report was evidence-based, addressed inconsistencies and aligned the allowances paid more closely with those paid by other councils.”


The allowance payable to the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey was then agreed at £21,840 annually and the deputy £10,920. 



At the same time, the chair of the Planning Committee was eligible for an annual payment of £8,320 with £3,380 for the vice-chair.


The sum of £6,240 was paid to the chair of the other three committees apart from the Audit Committee who would be paid £1,820 annually. These sums were in addition to their basic allowance.


The remaining committee vice-chairs were then paid £2,860 and the Audit Committee vice-chair, £780. The other 10 Planning Committee members were to be paid £2,340 each.

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